Sapo’s rescue plan endorsed by creditors
Ian Measures, a Glen Austin resident who has been using the closed Halfway House branch, described the recently endorsed of the Joint Businesses Rescue Plan 'verbose waffle'.
The Joint Business Rescue Practitioners, (BRP) for the South African Post Office (Sapo), Anoosh Rooplal and Juanito Damons are pleased to have their Business Rescue Plan approved by a majority vote from creditors at a recent meeting.
Although the plan was endorsed, it is still unclear when the Halfway House post office branch at the Boulders Shopping Centre is likely to re-open its doors.
As a result, a Glen Austin resident Ian Measures believes the rescue plan appears to him to be a great deal of verbose waffle.
ALSO READ: Glen Austin resident frustrated over Boulders Post Office closure
“There are extensive promises and proposals as to what is planned to happen, but nowhere are there any concrete example of how this will come about. Why will things improve with the failed post office when this rescue plan doesn’t explain in any detail whatsoever just how these improvements will be made? This is not an actual Rescue Plan but a list of proposals as to how this might be carried out. Where are the statements as to exactly what will be done and exactly who will be involved in doing this,” questioned Measures.
He said, instead, he would have far more confidence if the business plan proposed to rehire former post office CEO Mark Barnes, who had a proven record of success. “Presently I have very little if any confidence in the proposals as to what may eventually be done, if and when it can be”.
Had the business plan not been voted in, about 6 000 employees were likely to be retrenched.
Sapo further issued a notice to Halfway House branch customers who are residents of Ebony Park, Kaalfontein, Midstream, Rabie Ridge and Randjesfontien to collect recorded mail at the Olifantsfontein branch on 64 Main Road. Kyalami, Noordwyk, Vorna Valley, Waterfall and Calrswald residents can collect recorded mail at the Sunninghill branch, Sunninghill Centre.
Rooplal said a restructured post office can contribute to the financial sustainability of many large and smaller businesses, due its many procurement activities.
“The post office fulfils an important social mandate intended to provide key basic communications services to all households including the rural areas, where access to Wi-Fi, smart phones and printers are not a given. A restructured post office can do this affordably and conveniently, given certain regulatory pricing and geographic reach of the branch network.”
He said it will also contribute to the tax payer base as well as increase employment again in the future as the business grows.
Rooplal said the plan will be adopted in two phases over a 2 – 5 year period.
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